The fourth webinar of the PCP WISE Webstival took place on April 22nd and explored a vital theme: how to take water innovations from public procurement pilots to real-world impact—with the help of private investors and venture capital.

Hosted by Mélissa Campagno (G.A.C. Group), the session brought together experts in innovation funding, procurement, and commercialization to highlight the key role of private-sector engagement in accelerating solutions to today’s water challenges.

💬 “There is no scale without private capital.”

Samira Boussetta (Altaee) opened with a compelling argument: while pre-commercial procurement (PCP) offers a powerful launchpad for innovation, long-term success demands market orientation and private backing. “Participation in PCP allows SMEs to test and refine their technology in real-life environments—but commercialization requires strategic funding beyond grants,” she explained.

🏆 From Pilot to Market: Success Stories

Ana Lucia Jaramillo (Corvers) showcased successful companies that moved from PCP participation to real-world deployment. She emphasized that understanding the needs of public buyers, building strong consortia, and having a business model geared toward scalability are essential for attracting investors.

đź’¸ What Do Investors Look For?

Maria Kampa (Corvers) and Katarzyna Lenart (NCBR) offered insights into the investor mindset. “Venture capital seeks solutions that can solve global problems at scale,” said Kampa. “If you want to raise funding, your tech has to be not only innovative, but also market-ready and understandable to non-specialists.”

They underlined that visibility through PCP projects can serve as a proof-of-concept and de-risking tool for startups in the eyes of private funders.

🇵🇱 Spotlight: The Polish Model for Commercialisation Support

Agata Rakowska and Katarzyna Lenart (NCBR) presented Poland’s support framework for companies transitioning from PCP to commercialization. Their program offers matchmaking, investor engagement, and business coaching to ensure innovation doesn’t stall post-procurement.

🔄 Q&A and Networking Takeaways

The final segment saw lively interaction from attendees, reflecting strong interest from both startups and buyers. The key message? Public and private sectors must collaborate closely to turn innovative prototypes into real solutions for water resilience.

The recording of the webinar is available here and webinar slides here.